Passport problems? New rules by NADRA shakes up applications

ISLAMABAD: The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) introduced sweeping changes to identify documentation requirements, which will now affect passport applications and family registration.

Under the new rules, the outdated birth form (b-form) will no longer suffice for applying for passports. Instead, children aged three and above must be registered using a new Child Registration Certificate (CRC), which includes biometric data and photographs.

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The previous b-form will still be issued for children under three years but without biometric features. The measure aims to strengthen identity verification and improve data security for minors.

In a separate move, NADRA granted legal recognition to the Family Registration Certificate (FRC), which can now be used in inheritance claims, court proceedings, and other legal matters.

The updated FRC format reflects a wider range of family structures, including nuclear families, polygamous households, and step-families, with each unit documented distinctly.

Married women are also now afforded the option to list either their father’s or husband’s name on their official identity documents, a change intended to provide greater personal choice.

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NADRA also tightened timelines for resolving identity card dispute and introduced a voluntary return policy for illegally obtained identity cards. This will shield the returnees from prosecution.